it made me sad to see a dog's lead attached to the waist of someone walking smartly

[AbsolutelyPatsy]

thereby lack of stopping, sniffing, doing business.
just walking for exercise.

am i wrong?

@pilingup

You have no idea what they do the rest of the week?

Or the rest of the walk. I walk a dog a couple of times a week for a relative who can't manage more than short walks.

I let the dog dictate the pace a lot of the time so we run, walk fast, potter and sniff, all sorts.

Sometimes we have to get on and get home and at that time it might look like I'm not letting her sniff. But what you don't see is that she's spent the last hour or two sniffing, pottering and running to her hearts content.

@Indoctro

Sniffing is a very important part of a dogs stimulation and in facts it's way more mentally tiring that walking

A 30 minute super slow walk allowing a dog to sniff will tire a dog much more than making it walk solid for 30 minutes.

Unfortunately I don't think many dog owners are aware of this fact.

This is true, but a dog also needs physically exercise so a bit of both is good if you have time limits.

It made me sad
Can't take anyone over 5 seriously who uses this an an opening line.

Lb?

Skinny Lab!!

@AbsolutelyPatsy

thereby lack of stopping, sniffing, doing business. just walking for exercise.

am i wrong?

no you are absolutely not wrong. Why have a dog and not let the dog enjoy its walks?

We've just ordered a waist lead so our DearFriend who loves to walk our dog once a week can continue to do so, after unfortunately rupturing a tendon on her right hand. A pp mentioned arthritis too. I'm not a massive fan of waist leads for me but they're incredibly useful for certain dogs and certain situations. Any dog owner with a similar injury to DF would really struggle and potentially have to give up their dog without a waist lead.

I think people have been told to use one to deter dog thieves from snatching the lead from your hands.

How do you know the owner doesn't have a huge garden the dog can sniff in all day? How do you know whether the dog has already been taken out for a sniffing walk today - or has one scheduled for later?

They are also used by people who have disabilities that affect their upper body.

@Cavagirl

Am I the only person who thought this was a fashion thread?

I thought it was some sort of BDSM issue.

If that was all the dog was allowed, then I'd be a little sad for them too. Maybe the owner does another little 'potter' walk where the dog sniffs every daisy and blade of grass en route.

I sometimes see owners who are stationary while the bow in their lives has a sniffing episode and think they are nice people and the dog is lucky to be able to do what comes naturally.

@Indoctro

Sniffing is a very important part of a dogs stimulation and in facts it's way more mentally tiring that walking

A 30 minute super slow walk allowing a dog to sniff will tire a dog much more than making it walk solid for 30 minutes.

Unfortunately I don't think many dog owners are aware of this fact.

Unfortunately I don't think you are a) in a position to judge what most dog owners are aware of or b) aware that sniffing does not provide adequate exercise.

Dogs need to be able to indulge in their interests (ie lampposts and grass tufts and food) sometimes, and to have adequate physical exercise, which involves slow walking, brisk walking, and running.

so judgemental!!! you have no idea what is going on with that dog/owner.
I have a dog that also sometimes walks to heel with me and I do not allow her to sniff everything she wants BECAUSE i am training her that when I say heel, i expect her to walk at heel. This is because i want her to be able to be walked by other people including my older parents!! I dont want her in charge as she is big and strong.
She has plenty of time to sniff on walks at a time of my choosing and off lead for the majority of them

So sad, probably the saddest thing that's ever happened, ever....

This is a bit ridiculous. Dogs often get two or more walks per day. His next one could be a leisurely sniffy / exploring one.

There is a husky i follow on tiktok thats walked in harness alongside his owners bicycle... its immense watching him absolutely pelting along, practically pulling her on the bike behind him.

Some dogs need that kind of exercise.

@Indoctro

Sniffing is a very important part of a dogs stimulation and in facts it's way more mentally tiring that walking

A 30 minute super slow walk allowing a dog to sniff will tire a dog much more than making it walk solid for 30 minutes.

Unfortunately I don't think many dog owners are aware of this fact.

Sniffing is important so is exercise. My dog likes to do 5 miles and some sniffing.

It is estimated that 50% of dogs in the UK are overweight or obese.

Unfortunately I don't think many dog owners are aware of this fact.

You are wrong. Most dogs need both kinds of exercise- walks for sniffing, and walks where they actually get physical excercise.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

thereby lack of stopping, sniffing, doing business. just walking for exercise.

am i wrong?

One of our previous dogs had bad arthritis, and wasn't allowed to run free. Or it could be a very reactive dog.

I saw a Doberman on my walk this morning who had its ears and tail cropped and was being dragged around a lake by its completely useless owner terrorising everyone else with their —reasonably— well behaved dogs.

Now that is something to get bed sad about. Some dogs have awful lives with awful owners.

Its the train your dog/I don't like to see it when you are training your dog, let them be free to express themselves double bind.

@Ghosttile

If you saw me walking briskly down the centre of the path, with my dog on a very short lead, you’d judge. It’s actually to get her past what’s, for about 6 weeks in the summer, apparently the tastiest grass in a 5k radius. She’s fine everywhere else but on that 300m stretch she snatches mouthfuls of grass like a tiny pony if she gets close to the side of the path. It doesn’t make her sick but it does lead to unfortunate poo incidents, with a lump dangling from her arse on a less green strand of grass.

You only see a snapshot.

Oh my God I've got one of those. I now run past dry long grass cos I've had enough of pulling the hanging bit out of her bum later. FWIW I use a waist lead when out running. I figure if I'm out I may as well take dogs too. But other walks they are left to roam and sniff all over the woods/park/beach. They are often taken with bike too but the waist lead was ummm terror making and I came off more than once so I skip leads and just let them run free.

You don't need to let a dog run free to allow the to sniff and check things out. You just have to stop (with the dog still on a lead) and allow them to pursue an interesting scent while you patiently wait. You could still do that even if the lead was being held around your waist.

Waist belts are great for longer walks. You have your hands free, you are not having your arm pulled all the time and are not going to drop the lead if the dog takes off. I recommend them for anyone with a dog who walks longer distances.

My TIO only showed the beginning of the thread title, and I presumed it was "a dog lead attached to the waist of a child".

I'm very disappointed sad. I had popcorn and everything.